Metal cap



March 16, 1926. 1,577,023

} c. HAMMER METAL CAP Filed Feb; 16 1924 I INVENTOR wg afima ATTO Eu Patented Mar. '1 1926. v

CHARLES HAMMER, 01* Hours cotm'r BOULEVARD, new YORK.

METAL ,CAP.

Application 'filed mam '16, 1924. Serial No. 693,174. g

I To all whom it may concern: K

' citizen of the United States,

Be it ,known that I, CHARLES HAMMER, a

Hollis Court Boulevard, in lthecounty of Queens=ai1d State of New York, have in-,

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Caps, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to containers and caps therefor, particularly to glass containers, such ascatchup bottles and to meta-l caps for sealing the same, the object of the invention being to provide an improved glass container and pry-ofi' cap which latter can be made of relatively thin sheet metal and readily attached and easily removed by the use of a-conve'nient pry-offmeans such as a coin and which cap is of simple construction, easily manufactured,

inexpensively produced and efficient in use, i

and which can be either snapped on for reuse or rotated into locked position.

In the present improvement the cap and the container are provided with cooperating holding means located above the strengthened edge of the cap and comprise an annular shoulder and an annular bead one of which as the shoulder, is formed of spaced projections around the same, whereby in this form of the improvement the cap may, in its reuse be either snapped on or this improved cap applied thereto, being rotated into locking position.

V In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 illustrates this improved glass container in the form of a catchup bottle having one form of the cap shown in section; Fig, 2 is a side view of the cap applied to the bottle; and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 Fig. 1. l

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining in detail the present i'nnprovement and mode of operation. there-' of, it is desired to have it understood that the invention is not limited to. the detailsof construction and arrangement. of parts drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phraseology which is employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. v

The glass container is shown as a catchup bottle 2, and comprises a body having 8. ts-

pering neck 3 residing at the accompanying or mouth 4 an spaced below and of. larger diameter an annular shoulder -5', and spaced below and of still larger diameter a shoulder 6 facing the shoulder 5. In this form of container the shoulder 5 is formed by an annular band 5'. The shoulder 6 is connected with the shoulder 5 by: an inwardly curved portion 52. .and a straight portion 10, the shoulder 6 having a relatively flat upper face 11' and tapers toward the neck of the bottle as at 12 from which toward the body.

The shoulder shown is formed of spaced projections 5" located at intervals around the'container; In other words the shoulder 5 is not a continuous shoulder but is formed point the bottle flares (provided with a rounded lip I of separated or spaced holding portions 5-.

Between these spaced portions 5 there is either no shoulder at all or one of small proportions as compared with the portions 5".

The improved cap shown in Fig. 1 com-' prises a two-piece cap, although in some forms thereof, particularly when the skirt is ofless depth, the cap may be made in one piece. As shown, the top thereof comprises a disc 13 seamed or interlocked with a,depending seamed skirt or flange 14, which may have corrugations if desired to assist in' the manipulation of the cap as well as to strengthen the skirt of the same. The

' depending skirt which may be of any suitable depth, is in the present instance shownof. thatdepth, which Is particularly adapted for use as a catchup cap,-and therefore the skirt is shown as having a. depth usually as great as the diameter of the cap. The'lower edge of the skirt is bent upon itself to forma curled, rolled, beaded or stiffened lower edge 15 frequently called in this art a wire edge, although no wire is therein.

Above this rolled or beaded edge 15 the unstifl'ened metal ofthe skirt is inset orimpressed as at 16 around the cap to form an annular continuous holding bead underlapping the spaced formed shoulder 5 of the container. This insetting isdone in the first instance when the bottle is sealed by a suitable machine whereupon the container is of ficiently sealed. Of course in practice the use its

gap could be inset only undenthe projectmg portions 5" of the shoulder 5, but it is found preferable in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 to continuously inset the cap ltd ln the hands of the user however, the cap can be readily removed or pried off by the insertion of a coin ll" under the rolled edge, and between it and the shoulder 6 of the container. When it is desired to reseal the hottlc the cap can be readily snapped on again, and subsequently removed in the same manner, but as the cap, when it is pried oil by the use of a coin, is lilrely to have those portions of its annular bead 16, which registered with the projecting portions 5 of a container shoulder somewhat tlattcned or ironed out or deformed by the removal of the cap. of course the cap may not hold as ellicientlv it resnapped on in the same position as when applied by the manufacturer, but as those portions Oil the annular bead 16 which registered with the spaces between the projections 5 will not be flattened or ironed out on the removal of the cap, it follows that in the reuse of the cap it may he applied to the bottle with such undet'ormed portions registering with the spaces of the container shoulder and then the cap rotated to bring such undet'ormed portions under the projecting shoulder portions 5", thus securing the "up with practically the same etficiency in its reuse as it was originally secured by the manufacturer.

In other words when the annular bead 16 is inset by the machine under the projecting portions 5 it will also be inset adjacent to the spaces between these projecting portions 5".this being done by means ot the machine which is formed for that purpose, and consequently when the cap is removed by a coin those portions of the annular head 16 which underlap the projecting portions 5" of the shoulder will be somewhat flattened out, but

those portions which register with the spaces of the container shoulder will retain their form. and consequently when the cap is rcapplied to the bottle these latter portions can register with the spaces in the shoulder so that the cap can be pushed down on to the bottle and then turned to bring the unironed or undctormed port-ions of the bead under the projecting portions 5" of the container, thus again securely holding the cap on the container, or if preferred the cap can be snapped" on provided the somewhat ironed out portions are registered with the projections 5" of the container. llhus in the construction shown the cap can be either snapped on or rotated on.

lln the form of cap shown it can be more easily pried otl than is possible where the cap has a continuous annular head holding; under a con inuous annular shoulder of the container. Consequently as the cap in the present structure is shown held at tour points. although a greater or less number could be used if desired instead of all around the container shoulder, obviously it can be more quiclrly released by the use at a coin mamas or other pry-oil instrument than is possible where a continuous head on the cap underlaps a continuous shoulder on the container, and also obviously the cap can be snapped on easier than where the cooperating holding means comprises a continuous shoulder and a continuous bead, since the metal of the cap will give or release at the four points much more quickly and easily than it would where the cap is held by a continuous shoulder and a continuous head. 7

The cap it will be seen has a co1nparativcly smooth interior tree from any threads or holding lugs or any means to become messed up and clogged by the contents of the container, thus providing a highly sani tary and practical cap in which the holding means is located above the lower strengthencd or rolled edge oi the cap, but adjacent thereto. In the form of cap shown this holding means is in the form of an annular continuous impressed head. This holding portion is entirely independent of the rolled edge of the cap and formed of the unstitlcued metal of the cap itself above and tree ot the stiflcncd or rolled edge, so that the bending inward ot the shirtwill not effect such rolled edge. Thus the cap has in the present instance an annular holding portion located above a continuous out-turned rolled edge, the skirt metal between the two flarin outward as at 18 whereby a coin or other instrument may be readily inserted and leverae'e used against the curled edge and lower shoulder 6, which forms the fulcrum for the coin, to pry oil the cap.

Thus, while the holding portion of the cap and the out-turned curled edge are located in close proximity to each other whereby one strengthens and reinforces the other, they are nevertheless so spaced from each other by the flaring part 18 that the action of one is not interfered with by the other, and yet both are located at the lower portion of the cap, thus leaving, the entire inner surface of the cap from near the lower edge thereof to the top free of any inward holdin; projections, threads or other means to become filled up and corroded by the bottle contents.

By means of the present improvement, I am able to provide a thin sheet metal cap which can be readily made without the use of threads or other similar holding means, and in which the lower edge of the cap can be strengthened by means of a rolled or curled portion, which makes the cap sanitary and free of the disadvantages present in a raw or free edge cap, while the rolled edge so strengthens or stitiens the lower edge of the cap that a coin may be used to engage this lower strengthened edge to pry oil the cap without mutilation or destruction of the edge, although the can is made of thin metal. The impressed holding portion of the cap till ll lll is so located that the inpressing thereof to secure it to the bottle willnot be interfered with by the reinforced lower edge of be mutilated by any implement used'to pry olf the cap. .Moreover, the. metal above the curled edge can be impressed more readily than is possible with the rolled edge, which, because of its stilfened formation resists such inward pressure and also resists the prying oif of the cap. v

Consequently the present cap can he more readily removed by the use of a coin as the inpressed holding portions yield more quickly than would the stiffened lower edge were this bent under the container shoulder, and will yieldv more quickly-than is possible, where the holding portions are of continuous form on bothcap and containers Most catchup caps heretofore devised have usually been provided with threads reqllll:

, ing the glass neck ofthe bottle to be similarly formed and there are certain disadvane v I tages in such constructions other than those already pointed out, among which are the expense of formingthe caps with threads as well as the bottle, and the time required to turn the cap onand ofi, all of which are material factors "in the manufacture and quick handling of devices of, this kind. Aside from this, the ordinary threaded catchup cap required a separate sealing methis cap to not only take but to be made at much less expense, to be dium for the bottle usually in the form of a separatecap or-cork, which the present thus enabling.

improved cap does away with,

the place of two more easily handled and more quickly applied, as well asi'emoyed, and also more efliciently used.

Thus I have mg a curled or rolled lower edgethus materially simplifying and reducing the cost is desired to reseal the bottle the cap can be readily snapped on, or rotated on.-

'Thus I' have I believe, provided; a very inexpensive, catohup cap.

'It'is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, strucstructing and using the same,

ture or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the .several claims or the requirements of the prior art. p

Having thus explained the Eater's of my said invention and described a way' of conalthengh withprovided an improved cap comprising a top and a depending skirt havto the container.

rolled edge is in-' easily handled and applied out attempting to set forth all of theforms in which it may be made,or all of the modes of'its use, I claim 1. The combination of a.'containcr provided with an annular shoulder formed of spaced holding portionskand a metal cap comprising a top and a depending skirt having above its lower edge an inpressed annular bead cooperating with the spaced holding portions of the container, the prying oil of the cap serving to deform or iron out those portionsof the bead coperating with I the spaced holding portions of the container "leaving the undeformed o-rtions of the cap bead in position to"su sequently register with the spaced holding portions of the container whereby the cap may be either snapped or rotated on to the container.

2. The combination of a glass container provided with an annular shoulder formed of spaced holding portions and a metal cap comprising a top and a depending skirt hava stifi'ened lower edge, and thereabove an impressed annular bead cooperating with the spaced holding portions of the container, the prying off of the cap serving to deform or iron out thoseportions of the bead cooperating with the spaced holding portions of the container leaving the undecformed portions of the cap head in position to subsequently holding portions the cap may be on to the container.

-3.-. The combination of a register with i the spaced container provided with annular space-d holding portions,

and a metal pry-oil cap comprising a top and a depending skirt having above its lower edge a cooperating holding portion to engage the under wall of said spaced holding portions and so deformed by the prying off of the cap that the cap may be thereaftereither snapped on or rotated on 4. The combination of a container pro vided' withannular spaced holding portions, and a metal pry-ofl cap comprising a top and a depending skirt ha ving a strengthened lower edge and above ing head so deformed by-the prying off of the cap that the cap maybe thereafter either its lower edge a hold- 15 of the container whereby either snapped or. rotated snapped on or rotated on to the 'container.. i

5- The combination of a container provided with annular spaced holding portions,

and a metal pry-off cap compr sing a top and a depending skirt having a strengthened or beaded lower edge and above its lower edge a holding head so ing off of the cap that said beads flaring outward thereby' to per deformedby the pry-.1 the cap may be thereaftereither snapped on or rotated on to the container, the metal of the skirt between mit the insertion of a .coin between the beaded lower edge and the container to pry elf thecap, I

6. A metal cap having a depending skirt having an inwardly extending annular bead functioning under the shoulder portion of a container as the holding element of the cap and immediately below and independent of said holding element a stifi'ened curled or beaded lower edge, the metal of the skirt between said beads flaring outwardly by means or which and the strengthened lower edge of the cap a coin may be inserted for prying oi? the cap, said cap holding element being deformed during the prying oil of the cap and leaving an undeformed holding portion for use during the subsequent application of the cap to the container.

7. 1h metal cap comprising a top and a depending skirt having above the lower edge thereof an impressed annular holding head to engage under a container shoulder, spaced portions of said bead being deformed on the prying oil of the cap to leave in said bead spaced holding portions.

8. A metal cap comprising a top and a depending skirt hating a stitlened lower edge and above said stiti'ened lower edge an impressed annular holding head to engage under a container shoulder, spaced portions of said head being deformed on the prying oil of the cap to leave in said head spaced holding portions.

9. A. metal cap comprising a top and 21 depending skirt having a stitl'ened lower edge and above said still'ened lower edge an impressed annular holding head to engage 0 under a container shoulder, spaced portions of said bead being deformed on the prying oil of the cap to leave in said bead spaced holding portions, the metal between said still'ened lower edge and holding-bead flaring outwardly to permit the cap to be pried oil.

10. A metal catchup cap comprising a top and a long depending skirt having an outturned still'ened lower edge, and above it but in proximity thereto an impressed annular bead to engage under a container shoulder, spaced portions of said bead being deformed on the prying oil of the cap to leave in said bead spaced holding pon tions, the metal between said lower edge and holding bead flaring outwardly to permit the insertion of a pry-off means.

11. The combination of a container and a pry-oil metal cap adapted for use therewith, and comprising a top and a depending skirt having a stiffened or beaded lower edge spaced from the side of the container to permit the insertion of a pry-oil means, said container and skirt having cooperating holding portions above the lower edge of the *ap, each comprising an annular portion, the holding portion of the cap being machine insct under the container holding portion subsequent to the ap ilication of the cap to the container and functioning as the holding element of the cap on to the container, the annular holding portion of the container comprising spaced portions. whereby on the deformation of the annular holding portions of the cap at intervals other similar holding portions enable the cap to be rotated on to the container.

Signed at Brooklyn, N. Y., this 13th day of February 1924.

CHAR-LES HAMMER. 

